Massimo could only stare as Elena began the familiar routine of checking and treating his injuries. Because this was no longer familiar to him. Elena had never worn such a serious, stern expression as worked.
Her eyes had never helped such an unspoken anger and hurt. Her fingers, while always dexterous, had never seemed so cold and clinical to him.
Every move of hers struck Massimo as wrong. And he knew there was only one way to fix this.
"Elena," Massimo said softly, "we need to talk. I want to explain—"
"I need complete focus," Elena interrupted. "So that means I need total quiet. Otherwise, I won't be able to do my work as your doctor."
Elena felt her heart race from the lie. Massimo had faced plenty of more serious injuries that she had managed while they were both distracted. But she knew that if Massimo kept talking, she wasn't sure if she could keep acting as his doctor.
If she stopped and really thought about anything that happened tonight, Elena might turn into a sobbing mess or run away or do something else she'd later regret. So despite the fact it was an obvious lie, Elena still said it.
She turned back to Massimo's injuries. To her great surprise, Massimo only let out a quick breath and made no other sound.
Massimo's torso was, predictably, a canvas of bruises, but after she washed away the dirt and dried blood, she was surprised to see his only major injuries were the two she knew about—the knife wounds in his shoulder and stomach. She lathered a generous amount of ointment over both of them, careful to make sure her fingers didn't snag on anything sensitive.
Then Elena unrolled fresh bandages. She paid careful attention to Massimo's breathing as she dressed the wound. Massimo would never physically complain if she bound anything too tightly, but Elena could always tell his slight discomfort by the slight hitch in his breathing and the way he straightened his shoulders.
Elena moved to hand him his shirt and jacket, but Massimo stilled her hand.
"It's fine," he said. "I keep a spare change of clothes at every safe house. And it's probably best if we ditch these outfits anyways."


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